Saucon Park Work To Cost $658,894 In 1st Year

Low bids for the first phase of renovations at Bethlehem's Saucon Park are close to the city's estimates: The total of base bids for electrical and general construction work is $658,894.

The city estimated the first year's work, which could begin over the winter, at about $672,000.

If the apparent low bids agree with specifications and no other problems arise, the contracts would be awarded to Michael F. Ronca & Sons of Bethlehem for the general construction and to the Thomas L. Hoffman Co. of Allentown for the electrical work.

Ronca bid $609,910 for the construction, and Hoffman $48,984 for electrical work.

The Hoffman bid was substantially lower than the three other offers, which were tightly grouped in the $87,000 to $90,000 range. That prompted city officials to wonder whether there is an error in the Hoffman bid or whether that bid will meet contract specifications.

"When you have one that much different . . . you really have to look closely at it," said city engineer Gary Falasca.

However, Hoffman received the electrical contract for the John L. Schweder Fire Station, and city officials said they had no problems with the company's work on that project.

Electrical bids also were received from the Crowder Jr. Co. of Allentown, Buck Line Corp. of Reading, and Albarell Electric of Bethlehem.

The other general bids were from Kelly & Sons of Quakertown, $669,496; Franklin E. Skepton of Pennsburg, $748,447; Arthur P. Houser Inc. of Emmaus, $752,634, and Elli- ott-Lewis & Corp. of Philadelphia, $787,203.

The work is scheduled to include repaving of entrance roads and parking areas at the northern end of the park, landscaping, rehabilitation of the main park area, upgrading of playground areas, conversion of the wading pool to a spray pool, repaving of Dearborn Avenue, installation of walkways and lighting, and improvements to pedestrian bridges and the restroom buildings in the central park area.

The complete Saucon Park renovation would take place over seven years, be completed in 1991, and cost up to $3.3 million, according to current estimates of a plan devised by consultant Urban Research & Development Corp. of Bethlehem.

However, several Bethlehem City Council members have expressed concern about the amount of planned expenditures for the project, and the project could be scaled back. Planning Director Samuel Guttman said yesterday that any portion of the Phase 1 contract, up to a certain percentage of the contract total, could be deleted if necessary.

Council's committee of the whole will review the bids after tonight's regular council meeting, which will begin at 7:30 in Town Hall.

The administration proposes to pay for next year's work with about $234,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds; a $110,000 federal grant formerly earmarked for the canceled roof project at the municipal ice rink; $126,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for Interstate 78 land acquisition in Saucon Park, and a $200,000 state recreation grant.